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This Friday on Pushing Limits, we’re continuing our journey through The History of Adaptive Technology for the Blind — Part 2!  Denny Daughters talks with Mike Tanner about the technology that helped transform everyday life for blind people from the 1990s into the early 2000s. They’ll talk about computers, screen readers, MS-DOS, Windows 95, scanning software, and some more gadgets that made information more accessible — including talking calculators and talking dictionaries.  Before smartphones and AI, there was technology that talked, scanned, and opened up a whole new world of independence. Hear how it all started, this Friday on Pushing Limits!  This program is produced, edited, and hosted by Denny Daughters.  The post The History of Adaptive Technology for the Blind — Part 2! – Pushing Limits – September 18, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

Brooks Benson In the U.S. over 38 million individuals live with diabetes and, in California, more than 10% the adult population live with the disease.  On the 27th of this month, the Tour de Cure bike race fundraiser takes off from Palo Alto.  It’s 670 people and 63 teams of bicyclists.  It’s speed, glamour, endurance and many contestants with diabetes. But, what happens when the excitement is over and everyone goes home? The contestants with diabetes, and those among our friends and families, pedal through a different kind of race in their daily lives – a race with some of the same qualities – and many different ones. Tune in for a candid conversation with Brooks Benson, who lives with diabetes and has both ridden and volunteered at the Tour de Cure.   The Tour de Cure is a fundraiser for the American Diabetes Association of Northern California. This program is hosted by Josh Elwood, produced by Adrienne Lauby, and edited by Dominick Trevethan and Denny Daughters. Support from Britney Fanelli of the American Diabetes Association and Rod Akil from KPFA.   ANNOUNCEMENT Next Tuesday afternoon, two Alameda County independent living centers are inviting you to come talk about what is going on for you in housing, transportation and emergency preparedness.  It’s a town hall on Tuesday, September 15, from 4-6 pm at the Ed Roberts Campus which is at 3075 Adeline Street, Berkeley, CA,   That’s Tues, Sept 15 from 4-6 pm at the Ed Roberts Campus.  Both the Berkeley Center for Independent Living and Community Resources for Independent Living  or CRIL will be there  For a full program transcription, click here The post Living with Diabetes – Pushing Limits – September 11, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

A wheelchair isn’t just a way to get around. To a dancer, it’s also a tool for creating art, movement, and beauty.  As AXIS Dance approaches its 40th year of dance performance, the venerable East Bay dance organization will be featured in the Sept. 4 edition of Pushing Limits. For four decades, AXIS has delighted national audiences by showing how chairs on wheels can be every bit as graceful, expressive, and creative as any non-disabled human body.  Executive Director Holly Million and Artistic Director Nadia Adame speak with producer and host Eddie Ytuarte about why this organization continues to grow during a time of uncertainty for nonprofit arts presenters.  This program is hosted and produced by Eddie Ytuarte.  For a full program transcription, click here The post Dancing Beyond Limits – Pushing Limits – September 4, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) currently has 65,765 people locked in their detention warehouses. We wondered how many were disabled and what the conditions are for them. We wanted to find out what is being done to keep people out of detention centers in the first place. We went looking. A team of disability advocates visited ICE detention centers throughout California to advocate for better conditions, the abolition of solitary confinement and more. Richard Diaz from Disability Rights California (DRC), who led the team, explains what they found. They’ve released reports documenting the condition of those with disabilities in the facilities. In L.A. a disability peer group helps its members with the immigration process, obtaining assistive technology, and hosts support groups. We talk with Jose Luis-Jimenez, who’s in a leadership role with Immigrants with Disabilities. Jose also organized an international goalball tournament in Southern California as the Trump administration made it harder for foreigners from certain parts of the world to visit the U.S. This episode of Pushing Limits is produced by Jacob Lesner-Buxton, hosted by Bonnie Elliott, and edited by Denny Daughters. If you would like DRC assistance with a loved one in an ICE detention center, contact Richard Diaz at (213) 213-8000 For a full program transcription, click here The post Disability, Immigration and Detention – Pushing Limits – August 28, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

We call our news highlight program Disability in MAGA Land. That’s because, frankly, the news for people with disabilities these days is almost completely related to bad decisions by the right-wing Trump Administration. But sometimes… Sometimes, we see the world differently than many other lefty KPFA listeners and programmers. In this program for instance, we join Canadian conservatives to raise an alarm about a plan to enlarge those who are eligible for Physician Assisted Suicide. And, in another item, we see how disability rights can intersect with abortion rights in a peculiar way. Listen to these and other news highlights from the Disability Community. Tell us what you think at [email protected]   Produced by Eddie Ytuarte.  Hosted by Eddie Ytuarte and Adrienne Lauby. For a full transcript of this program, click here. First Disability Pride March in New York City, {Photo courtesy of United Nations)       Sources and Other Information about today’s stories: Disability Justice and Palestine https://uptonrebecca.substack.com/p/disability-justice-and-palestine Rebecca Upton recommends the following organizations to support and/or follow: HEAL Palestine The Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children Disability Divest Disability Justice for Palestine Collective Article Footnotes: Beutels, F., & Verhoeven, M. (2025). Contextualizing disability: Settler-colonial power and the production of impairment in Palestine. DiGeSt – Journal of Diversity and Gender Studies, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.21825/digest.95437 Goodarzi, H., Badri, T., & Javadzadeh, H. R. (2023). War, forced displacement, and lack of healthcare in the Gaza Strip. Trauma Monthly, 28(5), 945-946. doi.org/10.30491/tm.2023.427311.1665 Hamamra, B., Mahamid, F., & Mayaleh, A. (2025). Childhood under siege: Battling malnutrition, disease, and despair during genocide in Gaza. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 44(1), 321. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00321-y Sen, S., & Asi, Y. (2024). Coming to terms: Gaza and disability. Disability & Society. Advance online publication. doi.org/10.1002/nad.12187   Surrogate mother gives birth over “parents objection”  https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/12/surrogate-mother-texas-gives-birth https://abc13.com/story/mckenna-west-surrogates-fight-parental-rights-dallas-could-discourage-surrogacy-use-texas-lawyers-say/19702274/   Canada May Allow Mentally Disabled People Medical Assistance To Die   https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/maid-mental-illness-canada-9.7240830 https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/maid-mental-disorder-committee-report-government-9.7238589   California Strengthens Hate Crime Protection https://thearcca.org/news-room/press-releases/ Photo from: https://www.pickpik.com/hospice-wrinkled-hand-elderly-old-senior-patient-110996         Trump Withholds Billions from California https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VKs61x5FxE https://healthlaw.org/news/californias-final-2026-2027-budget-delays-the-worst-medi-cal-cuts-but-still-harms-millions-of-californians/ Cat Training Helps Kids With Disabilities – and Their Cats  https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/16/14/2133 The post Disability In MAGA Land – August 21, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

The current state of disability rights wouldn’t be what it is without the rich history and the strong individuals who pushed the movement forward. But what about the future? Who is propelling us into the next era of disability rights?   Ryan Manriquez On this week’s program, Dominick Trevethan attempts to answer that question by interviewing two of his peers. His guests, Ryan Manriquez and Sarah Bellish, both live with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, or SMA, and they want more from our current systems. Listen in as they discuss the changes they hope to see in the coming years and outline how to fight for the future we want.   Ryan Manriquez is a disability justice advocate, a graduate of UC Davis and UC Berkeley, and, as he puts it, a “transit nerd.” Working in the Bay Area, he hopes to use his lived experience as a person with a disability to push for more accessible housing, public transportation, and government-funded medical research.   Sarah Bellish is the Senior Manager of Advocacy at Cure SMA, where she works in public policy to help push vital disability legislation through the doors of Congress. Issues important to her include increasing the current SSI Asset Limit, making it safer for those with disabilities to fly, and improving the current state of accessible public transportation.   We’ve come this far. So, where do we go next? Find out on Pushing Limits!   This program was hosted and produced by Dominick Trevethan. Editing by Dominick Trevethan and Denny Daughters.   For a full program transcription, click here Relevant Resources:   Cure SMA   Cure SMA Advocacy  How to become a Cure SMA Advocate  Sarah Bellish The post SMA Voices, Disability Rights – Pushing Limits – August 14, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

In 1981, longtime disability activist Jean Stewart guest edited a special issue of the legendary folk music magazine Sing Out!, featuring folk musicians and songwriters whose work explored disability themes. Though Sing Out! is no longer in publication, Jean remains a cherished friend of Pushing Limits and continues her advocacy from her home in El Sobrante. This week, Pushing Limits revisits that landmark 1981 issue by spotlighting two prominent musicians it featured: Doc Watson and Django Reinhardt. Both were extraordinary guitarists who lived with distinct disabilities, came from different continents, and mastered different musical genres. Enjoy part of your Friday afternoon with Pushing Limits, produced and hosted by Eddie Ytuarte. For a full program transcription, click here The post Disability in Song: Revisiting Sing Out! – Pushing Limits – August 7, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

What did it take for blind people to gain access to computers before modern day screen readers and smartphones? Join Denny Daughters as he talks with Mike Tanner, a blind educator who teaches blind and visually impaired students in Southern California, about the evolution of adaptive technology for the blind.  From the first scanning and reading machines of the 1970s to groundbreaking devices like the Apple IIe, VersaBraille, and early PCs, they explore the innovations that opened the door to education, employment, and independence.  This first installment traces the history of adaptive technology from the early 1970s through about 1990. It’s the beginning of a series exploring the evolution of technology that has transformed life for blind people.  This program is hosted, produced, and edited by Denny Daughters.  For a full program transcription, click here The post The History of Adaptive Technology for the Blind (Part 1) – Pushing Limits – July 31, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

“Sexual violence is not just an issue within the disability community — it’s a defining issue.”   Margaux Sorenson Margaux Sorenson     Nancy Williams-Nettles “Historically the intersectionality of disability and race was overlooked by [both] the civil rights and disability movements.” Nancy Williams-Nettles   What brings them to this understanding and what can we do in response? Hear presentations from both these women on this program. Challenging, stimulating information from last year’s “Disability Strong” conference.   This episode of Pushing Limits is produced by Jacob Lesner-Buxton, voiced by Adrienne Lauby and edited by Adrienne Lauby & Denny Daughters.  Conference audio was provided by Jen Chassmam-Brown.   You can access all the conference presentations HERE. For a full transcription of this program, click here   ANNOUNCEMENTS Celebrate the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act Friday, July 24th @1pm on Zoom.  Open Mic. THE ORGANIZERS ARE LOOKING FOR DANCERS, MUSICIANS, POETS, AND OTHER PEOPLE TO PERFORM. THE FIRST 30 PEOPLE WHO SIGN UP WILL RECEIVE A $30 DOLLAR DOORDASH GIFT CARD!! To sign up and to request accommodations, e-mail [email protected] ———————————- An Effort to Increase Connection Between People with Disabilities and Able-Bodied People Friday, July 31st @ 1 pm on zoom  Disabled people will be able to ask able-bodied people how they relate to us and how they view their own identities. The group will explore questions like: “When did you know you didn’t have a disability?” “Why don’t certain people without disabilities ask people with speech disabilities to repeat themselves?” “Do you feel a connection to others without disabilities?” “How does it feel to walk/drive a car/be understood by strangers?” Attendance is limited to 40 people. To sign up and to request accommodations please email [email protected]. The post Disability, Violence & Race – Pushing Limits – July 17, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

How do you produce radio when you can’t see the screen? Or when you only have the use of a few fingers?  This week on Pushing Limits, producers Dominick Trevethan and Denny Daughters take you behind the microphone to share how they edit audio, produce radio, and overcome barriers using assistive technology and adaptive techniques.  They also discuss why authentic disability representation matters—not just in front of the microphone as guests, but behind the scenes as producers and editors.  This program was produced and edited by Denny Daughters and Dominick Trevethan. It is hosted by Dominick Trevethan.  Relevant Resources:  Here’s the app Dominick uses to control his laptop: https://apps.apple.com/app/id629019487 Here’s the screen reader Denny uses: https://www.nvaccess.org/ For a full program transcription, click here The post The Art of Accessible Editing – Pushing Limits – July 10, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

Will we return to the bad old days of existence in substandard hospitals and nursing homes?  Or will we fight to preserve our lives in the community? Sadly, this is not a rhetorical question.   In 1999, the United States Supreme Court passed the Olmstead decision determining that people with disabilities should not be forced into institutions when they can be safely and appropriately supported in community settings. Or, in other words, people with mental and other disabilities no longer had to be incarcerated in oppressive institutions when they could reside in whatever type of community living was most appropriate to the individual.  But in a memo issued in June, the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel upended that guidance. It argued that neither the Americans with Disabilities Act, nor Section 504, two major disability rights laws, requires states to provide services in the most mainstream setting.   Pushing Limits on Friday, July 3 interviews Eric Harris, Associate Executive Director of External Affairs for Disability Rights California, to discuss Olmstead and the threat against it.  This Program is hosted and produced by Eddie Ytuarte.  Click here for a relevant article. For more info on our guest click here or read below:  Eric Harris is DRC’s Associate Executive Director of External Affairs with an extensive career working closely with disability leaders, community members, and elected officials throughout the country to progress change for the disability community. Eric Harris Harris brings significant local, state and federal policy experience, having worked for Congresswoman Barbara Lee, the Democratic National Committee and the California and Hawaii State NAACP.  Mr. Harris has led discussions on disability pride, inclusion and access on platforms throughout the country. He has spoken at Harvard Law School, the University of California at Berkeley School of Medicine and at the White House.   Harris started his time at DRC in 2019 working in the legislation and estrategic partnerships and community engagement units. He served on the State Independent Living Council as a Governor Newsom appointee and as a board member for the Resources for Independent Living in Sacramento. He grew up in Sacramento, California and was an elite wheelchair basketball player.  “Creating public policy that improves the lives of disabled people has been my life’s mission. I look forward to working closely with intersectional disability leaders throughout the state to improve the lives of all people with disabilities.”  For a full program transcription, click here The post Olmstead Under Threat – Pushing Limits – July 3, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

Jo, who lives with chronic illness, wears the ‘Please Offer Me a Seat’ badge and sunflower lanyard on public transport.  If you’re wondering through the Trump fog, we have some help for you.  There are so many problems, so many alarms, so many changes. . . how can anyone take it all in and get out the front door in the morning. So, today, we bring you key stories of disability in MAGA Land.  We’ve sorted through the headlines, checked for overlooked news, and found the disability context you need to make sense of it all. Click here for the Transcript These are the stories in this episode, with links to our sources: Gaza – Disabled Arabs in Israel  https://sjdr.se/articles/10.16993/sjdr.1002 Lebanon – Forgotten Victims https://www.hi-us.org/en/news/lebanon-people-with-disabilities-forgotten-victims-of-the-crisis Amputees in Gaza  https://www.hi-us.org/en/escalating-amputation-crisis-in-gaza-amid-severe-prosthetics-shortage  Haitian and Syrians Sent Home Leaving Nursing Homes in Crisis Disability Moved from Education Dept. https://www.the74million.org/article/splitting-up-special-ed-and-civil-rights-will-dilute-services-for-students-experts-say/ https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/06/rfk-jr-disability-special-education-hhs-kennedy-autism/?ref=disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io London Badges https://tfl.gov.uk/transport-accessibility/please-offer-me-a-seat https://hdsunflower.com/ https://www.bodybabble.com/p/the-politics-of-sitting-down Work Requirements – food stamps and Medi-Cal https://www.nokidhungry.org/blog/why-more-snap-work-requirements-will-harm-families-and-increase-hunger Expected rise in SSI benefits https://web.charityengine.net/Default.aspx?tsid=40811 https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2025/10/24/ssi-social-security-benefits-will-rise-next-year/31698/ 8.  Olmstead Under Attack https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/06/trump-doj-memo-olmstead-psychiatric-disabilities-institutions-mental-health/?ref=disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io https://mailchi.mp/c57f2fa9c907/alert-executive-branchs-assault-on-the-integration-mandate?ref=disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io   These important stories were not able to fit into this episode, read the sources below for more information about them: Private Equity takes over services https://pestakeholder.org/reports/private-equity-in-intellectual-and-developmental-disability-services/ https://adawatch.org/category/disability-rights-justice-news/ Prism Reports Dreadful Conditions in Gaza https://prismreports.org/2025/12/08/gaza-disabled-palestinians-disabilities/ Caregivers with Disabilities – Adrienne https://heller.brandeis.edu/community-living-policy/research-policy/publications/titles/caregivers-w-disabilities.html https://disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io/4-20-26-caregiving-and-a-look-back-at-winter/   Photo Credit: @presentedbyjo. https://www.bodybabble.com/p/the-politics-of-sitting-down This program produced and hosted by Eddie Ytuarte and Adrienne Lauby. The post Pushing Limits – Disability In MAGA Land – June, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

We’ve spun a lot of records and told a lot of stories—but there’s still more to discover. And speaking of…   Join Denny Daughters on Friday, June 19, at 2:30 pm for another installment of Musicians With Disabilities. This time, Denny explores the stories and music of artists affected by blindness, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease. Discover how these performers continued to create and leave their mark on music despite the obstacles they faced.   Along the way, you might learn something new about the artists and groups behind the songs. Featuring music from the 1960s through the 1990s, this program offers a unique blend of great music and fascinating stories.   This show was hosted edited and produced by Denny Daughters.  The post Musicians With All Types of Disabilities – Pushing Limits – June 19, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

This Friday, Pushing Limits talks to “The Last Person on IHSS.”   This Friday afternoon at 2:30, Pushing Limits presents a radio play entitled “The Last Person on IHSS.”   It’s the year 2036, three years since California eliminated its In-Home Supportive Services program, commonly known as IHSS. Since 1973, this program has allowed people with disabilities to choose the individual they want to assist them with daily living and provides the funds to hire them. In the years since the program was eliminated, several funds had been set up to pay caregivers. However, due to the failing economy, these funds soon ran out. People were also encouraged to volunteer their time to care for those with disabilities, while former IHSS recipients were told to use their savings to pay for care. However, month after month, more people with disabilities ran out of funding, forcing them into institutions. After much research, the Pushing Limits team identified Betty Adler of Berkeley, CA, as the last person enrolled in the IHSS program to live independently. For the past three years, the 80-year-old Adler has been using her inheritance and personal savings to keep her 42-year-old caregiver, Amy, employed. However, Betty’s money has run out.    We interviewed Betty on the eve of her entering a nursing home to find out about her life as the last person on IHSS. Come join us to hear an episode from the future that we hope to never see.    After the play, we’ll return to 2026 and rebroadcast some important information about current Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund initiatives, including the intersections of disability with immigration policy, physician-assisted suicide, and reproductive rights.  The Last Person on IHSS stars:    Denny Daughters   Kelly Kivlahan   Emily Bridges   Dominick Trevethan   Jennifer Chassman Browne Joni Gold   The script was written by the cast, Jacob Lesner-Buxton, and Collin Thoma and was produced by Jacob Lesner-Buxton. Editing was done by Denny Daughters and Dominick Trevethan.   If you are inspired by the play, you can e-mail your legislators your thoughts on the IHSS program at https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/  For a full program transcription, click here The post The Last Person on IHSS – Pushing Limits – June 12, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

Pushing Limits continues its coverage of disability issues in the Middle East, particularly as tensions and military conflict continue to affect the region.  Hannah Guedenet This Friday, June 5, our focus turns to Lebanon. We’ll examine the state of disability rights in the country, the availability of services and support for people with disabilities, and the challenges faced by the large population of Syrian refugees living there.  Joining us is Hannah Guedenet, U.S. Executive Director of Humanity & Inclusion, an international organization that recently released a report on disability in Lebanon. She’ll discuss the report’s findings, and disability in Lebanon as Israeli Defense forces constantly occupy more of the country.  Hannah Guedenet joined Humanity & Inclusion as the U.S. Executive Director in November 2024. She brings more than 15 years of experience in strategic communications and program management to drive global health and food security initiatives. Passionate about impactful storytelling and stakeholder engagement, she excels in enhancing visibility and building sustainable partnerships. She began her international development career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guinea. This program is hosted and produced by Eddie Ytuarte. The post The State of Disability in Lebanon – Pushing Limits – June 5, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.